Orthodontia bracket



Aug. 2, 1938. A. RICHARDSON 3 ORTHODONTIA BRACKET Filed Oct. :l, 195s Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNHTED STATES rA'rsN'r FFHSE 3 Claims.

My invention relates. to an orthodontia band bracket and has for its principal object, to provide a relatively simple, practical, strong and durable bracket that is adapted to be secured to the tooth encircling bands of orthodontia appliances, to serve as a supportand point of attachment for the arch bow and wires or ligatures that are connected to the tooth band.

Further objects of my invention are, to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the existing forms of orthodontia band brackets and to provide a bracket that is shaped and constructed so as to utilize to the greatest advantage the inherent strength of the metal to resist the strains and stresses that are transmitted to the bracket by the arch bow and ligatures while the orthodontla appliance which includes the bracket is in service.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a bracket of the character referred to that may be easily and inexpensively produced, further, to provide the bracket with a base plate of ample size for attachment to the tooth encircling band and further, to construct the bracket so as to minimize indentations or recessed corners and which latter if present in orthodontia band brackets form pockets for the accumulation of particles of food and with attendant deleterious results.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bracket of my improved construction applied to a tooth encircling band.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bracket applied to a tooth band.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified construction, wherein the bracket is formed in two parts.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 66 of Fig. 5 and showing the parts of the bracket properly assembled.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the two-part bracket.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 88 of Fig. '7.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing and particularly to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, l0 designates a plate preferably rectangular in form and which is suitably secured either by soldering or Welding to a tooth encircling band B.

Formed integral with the central portion of plate l9 and projecting forwardly therefrom, is a substantially L-shaped bracket, the rear end of the horizontal leg I l of which is formed integral with the plate l9 and the vertical leg l2 being formed integral with the forward portion of leg II.

The vertical leg 52 of the bracket and the forward portion of the horizontal leg l l, are substantially half-round in horizontal section with a continuous smooth rounded outward face and this rounded front face of the front end of leg ll forms. a continuation of the smooth outer faces of fillets [3 that form the sides of the rear por tion of horizontal leg H and which extend rearwardly and outwardly to meet the front face of plate Iii.

Obviously these fillets eliminate recesses or re entrant corners between the sides of the horizontal leg of the bracket and the face of plate ill. Further, these fillets materially increase the strength and stability of the bracket and resist the strains and stresses imparted thereto by the arch bow.

By eliminating the recesses or re-entrant corners between the sides of the horizontal leg of the bracket and the face of the plate ii], it is impossible for food to collect on the sides of the bracket, due to the fact that the saliva readily washes all food products downwardly over the smooth curved surfaces of the fillets and the curved faces of the fillets lend themselves to the cleansing action of a toothbrush.

The substantially rectangular space I4 between the upper portion of the vertical leg l2 and the front face of plate iii, provides a transverse slot or opening that is occupied by the arch bow of the orthodontia appliance.

The front face of the plate it immediately to the rear of this slot functions as a relatively Wide bearing surface for the arch-bar that is positioned in the slot, and thus distributes over a comparatively wide area, the strains and stresses that are transmitted to the plate H by the arch-bar and which strains and stresses are in turn transmitted to the tooth band to which the bracket is fixed. Further, it will be noted that the top surfaces of the fillets coincide with and are continuations of the top surface of the horizontal portion of the L-shaped bracket and thus a face of substantial area is provided upon which rests the bottom of the insert arch-bar, such increased bearing sur face cooperating with the wide surface against which the rear face of the arch-bar engages to counteract to a maximum degree, tendency of strains and torque forces to rotate the arch-bar, its slot and also distributing over comparatively large areas, the strains and stresses that are imparted to the bracket lay the arch-bar. In other words, the censtruction of the bracket provides a very strong and substantial support for the arch-fear and the increased strength of the bracket, due to the wide bearing surfaces fer the bottom and rear face of the arch-bar, is highly effective in maintaining the archibar in proper position upon the bracket.

Formed integral with and projecting forwardly from the lower portion of piate I0, is a horizontally disposed lug I5, having the same shape in horizontal section as the lower leg H of the upper bracket and said lower lug or bracket including 2 fillets 6: that eliminate corners or recesses between the sides of the lug or bracket and plate In.

The space I! between the lug or bracket |5 and the underface of the bracket, comprising the legs 5 II and I2, constitutes a transverse notch or opening for the reception of ligatures or tie wires that form a part of the orthodontia appliance.

Formed through the central portion of plate H1 and extending forwardly in the bracket com-? 30 prising the legs I I and t2 and the lug or bracket;

15, is a vertically disposed slot l8 which inter sects the transverse notches M and I1. e This slot 3 extends a short distance beyond the front edge of the notch J4, thus providing at the 35 forward end of said slot. I8 a vertically disposed opening for the reception of the key or pin that is utilized in connecting the arch bow and ligatures or tie wires to the bracket. W The bracket ,as just described, is preferably 407 formedij from a single piece of hard metal and it; 1 may be produced by cutting a solid blockbf metal: to shape or it may be formed by rolling pressing or forging methods. 1

The fillets l3 add materially to the strength of 5 the brackets with which they are associated and" the smooth outer faces 'of the brackets offer no discomfort to the tissues of the lips and tongue of the person to whom the orthodontia apparatus is applied. f In the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 7 5 and 6, the base plate is divided on a horizontal line to form an upper part 20 and a lower part 2 t. Formed integral with and prejecting forwardly from the lower portion of the upper plate 2!], is an 55 L-shaped bracket 22 that is identical in construction with 'the bracket comprising the parts II and I2 previously described and with fillets 23 between the sides of the horizontal leg of said bracket 22 and the face of plate 20. 7 j

A vertically disposed slot 24 is formed through the center of plate 20 and extends forwardly through the horizontal leg of the bracket 22 and into the vertical leg thereof fer the reception of the key or pin that is gsed in connecting the arch 5 bow and tie wires or ligatures to the bracket.

The lower portion of plate 29 extends a short distance below the underface of bracket 22 as designated by 25 and the lower edge of this portion of the base plate'rests directly ontop of the 70 lower plate 2| when the two plates are properly assembled and applied to the tooth encircling band.

This arrangement provides for the horizontally disposed. notch 26 which corresponds to the notch 75:, I in the one piece structure previously described and which accommodates the ligatures or tie wires i used with the device.

Formed integral with and projecting forwardly from the central portion of plate 2|, is a lug or bracket2'l that has the same horizontal sectional shape as the lower portion of bracket 22 and the sides of said lug or bracket 21 being connected to the plate 2| by fillets 28.. n

Formed through the plate 2| and extending forwardly in bracket 21, is a vertically xiisposed slot 29 that registers with the slot 24 in plate 20 and which provides a seat for the key or pin that is utilized in attaching the ligatures or tie wires.

The height of the plate 2| ,and the lug 011 bracket carried thereby is substantially less than the height of plate 2|].

When this form of bracket is used, the two parts are assembled as illustrated in Fig. 6 and permanently secured to the tooth band by solder: ing or brazing methods.

In the treatment of certain cases of orthodontia, the-upper bracket or that part comprising the plate Ziiand bracket 22 may be used without the lower part 2|.

In-the modified construction illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, the base plate that is rigidly secured to the tooth band is formed in two parts, an uppe part and a lower part 3|.

Formed integral with and projecting outwardly from the lower portion of the upper part 30', is a substantially L-shaped bracket 32 that is practically identical in construction with bracket 22 and the bracket comprising the parts 4| and I2 and the sides .of this bracket 32 are connected to the plate 3|] by fillets 33. H r

A vertically'disposed slot 34 is formed through the center of plate 30 and extends forwardly into the bracket 32 for the reception of the arch how and ligature retaining pin or key.

Projecting forwardly from the lower: portion of the lower plate 3|, is a lug or. bracket 35 having the same horizontal sectional shape as the lower portion of bracket 32 and a vertically disposed slot 33 is formed through plate 3| and extends forwardly in; the lug or bracket 35 for the accommodation of the arch bow and ligature retaining pin or key. 7

Slot 36 is in direct alignment with the slot 35.

When the two plates are assembledfand secured to the tooth band, the upper edge of plate 3| bears directly against the loiler edge of plate 30 and. thus a transverse slot 37 is formed between the lug 35 and the bracket 32, which slot receives the ligatures or tie wires.

The rounding of the front faces of the lugs or brackets and the fillets, present smooth unbreken surtaoes that are in no wise uncomfortable to the patient and such construction or disposition of the metal in the lugs or brackets, provide ample strength to prevent bending distortion or fracture resulting from the" strains and stresses imparted to the lugs or brackets by the arch bow and ligatures. r

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an orthodontia bracket that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture; and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended. i

Those portions of the bracket that project forwardly from the base plate have smooth curved front faces, thereby eliminating sharp corners that would otherwise tend to afford discomfort to the patient as a result of the contact of the sharp corners with the tissues of the lips and tongue and the fillets that connect the sides of the projecting portions of the bracket with the base plate imparting the required strength to the bracket to resist the strains and stresses transmitted thereto by the arch bow and ligatures and in addition said fillets eliminate the reentrant corners or recesses which tend to collect food while the bracket is in service.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form, and construction-of the various parts of my improved orthodontia bracket may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An orthodontia bracket comprising a base plate, a bracket formed integral with and projecting forwardly from the front face of said base plate, fillets between the sides of said bracket and said base plate, said bracket being provided with a pair of horizontally disposed notches for the reception of an arch bow, ligatures and said base plate being divided by a centrally arranged vertically disposed slot, and said bracket being pro vided with a vertically disposed notch that extends from the slot in the plate forwardly into said bracket and constituting a slot for the reception of the pin or key that secures the arch bow and ligatures to the bracket.

2. An orthodontia bracket comprising a base plate, a bracket formed integral with and projecting forwardly from the front face of said base plate, said bracket provided in its upper rear portion with a transversely disposed notch for the reception of an arch bow, said bracket being provided in its lower portion with a horizontally disposed notch for the reception of ligatures, said bracket being provided with a vertically disposed slot for the reception of a pin or key that secures the arch bow and ligatures to said bracket, said base plate being provided with a centrally arranged vertically disposed slot that coincides with and constitutes an extension at the rear of the slot in said bracket and the front portion of the vertically disposed slot in the bracket projecting forwardly beyond the front face of the transversely disposed notch in the upper portion of said bracket.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an orthodontia bracket comprising a base plate, a substantially L-shaped bracket formed integral with and projecting forwardly from said base plate, the opening between the upper portion of the vertical leg of said bracket and the front face of said base plate constituting a transverse slot for the accommodation of an arch-bar, there being a vertically disposed slot formed in the center of said base plate and extending forwardly into said bracket to a point forwardly from the rear face of the upper portion of the vertical leg of said L-shaped bracket to provide a vertically disposed slot for the reception of a pin or key that secures the arch-bar to the bracket, fillets between the sides of the horizontal leg of said bracket and the face of said base plate and the top surfaces of which fillets coincide with and constitute extensions of the top surface of the horizontal leg of the L-shaped bracket to form an extended archbar supporting surface.

ANNIE RICHARDSON. 

